protection found himself on the wrong side of the law.

Stefon Marvin Somersall, 28, of Marsh Lane, Pembroke pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court yesterday to possession of a illegal weapon.

Crown counsel Veronica Daley told the court that Police officers on mobile patrol were travelling east along Mullet Bay Road in St. George's on September 29 of last year when Somersall, who was driving a taxi behind them, passed them at high speed.

The officers stopped him and noticed that he seemed nervous.

They searched the taxi and found a 100-volt Q Mega stun gun.

Somersall admitted to owning the gun, but denied that he knew that it was a prohibited weapon.

"I use it for protection,'' he said. "I'm not going to get robbed.'' He told the court that he purchased the gun through the Bermuda Regiment.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis sympathised with Somersall, saying: "I can understand taxi drivers at night...however, we believe that weapons are not the way to go. We would become like the Wild West.'' Mr. Francis ordered Somersall to pay a $150 fine.